Intermont Lodge No. 269, A.F. & A.M.

                                                               Narrows, Virginia

During the period of 1898, a group of Master Masons saw the need to establish a Masonic Lodge at Wolf Creek and New River in Giles County, Virginia. A dispensation was granted on March 12, 1898. On December 8, 1898, the Grand Lodge of Virginia issued a charter to Intermont Lodge No. 269.

It is unknown at this time where Intermont Lodge actually held their meetings prior to 1910. However, it is thought that they met with the Fort Narrows Lodge No. 149 of the I. O. O. F.

Sometime around 1908, or early 1910, a fire destroyed their temple, and all records were lost. Early 1910 brought an agreement between the Masons and Odd Fellows. They were to jointly build a three-story building on Main St. in Narrows on a lot owned by the Odd Fellows. The Masons paid 1/3 and the Odd Fellows paid 2/3 of the costs. Intermont Lodge met on the third floor, and the Odd Fellows met on the second floor, while renting out the first floor to business. The rented first floor was at one time a theater, and later a pool parlor. The upkeep for the building was shared for the next fifty-four years.

In 1912, a bell purchased by the Odd Fellows in 1897, was installed atop of this three-story building. During the next 52 years, this bell was rung by Fort Narrows No. 149, I.O.O.F., Intermont Lodge, Lakeland Chapter No. 71 Order of the Eastern Star, and the Woodsman of the World. It served as a town fire alarm, and was rung on Armistice Day and at the beginning of each year. The bell was also used to announce the 8:00 curfew for children at night, and was rung during funerals tolling a note for each year of life of the deceased. It was also rung for historic occasions such as the ending of World Wars I & II. The two-clapper bell was removed from the building in 1964, just prior to the building being torn down. The bell, which had been in storage, reappeared in 1985. It was repaired, sandblasted, painted and placed on a pedestal outside of our existing Lodge Hall.

The Masons dreamed of a Lodge of their own all thru the twenties, thirties, forties and fifties. There were many committees appointed to investigate the possibility of buying a lot and building their own temple. The sixties brought joy and gladness to Intermont Lodge members when they bought property of their own and proceeded to build their own temple. In 1963, the Postal department purchased the three-story building and it was to be torn down.

Intermont Lodge met several times in Giles Lodge No. 106 and later moved into the old Home Economics Building of the Old High school located in downtown Narrows. Two Brethren and Past Masters came to the needs of our Lodge. They offered two lots to Intermont Lodge at the low cost of $1500.00. A finance committee raised funds for the building of a new Temple. The ground was broken in the fall of 1964.

Today Intermont Lodge is prosperous. We sponsor the New River Chapter Order of DeMolay, and the International Assembly of Rainbow for Girls.